solid state vs tube

[onosson]

I'll tell you...my band's guitarist recently got one of those cheapy Vox Valvestate amps, and it sounds darn good. And I've been using a Crate Power Block into one of my SVT210av cabs for guitar and it also sounds darn good. So it's getting better for them as well.

I use a Vox Valvestate for guitar when I perform my original songs and I love it. Most of the amp models are useless to me, but I only need ONE that sounds good, and in fact there are three or four. The eq and effects sections work very nice, but what's most killer are the FOUR stages of volume, two on the preamp tube, and two at the SS power section!

Now, back to bass...

 

[GnRDuff1]

Honestly I don't have a preference for tube or solid state. If I want to sound like I'm playing through an svt, there really is one way to do that 100%. Luckily, the classic "gk" tone is what I like, so.....I don't have that issue. Gimme grind and growl over warm hairy-ness any day

 

[mogpipe]

I play through a Hartke VX3500. Inputs for passive and active electronics, and dials for Tube and SS. You can either/or, or even blend them.

 

[redhed]

For the past 3 years I was saying whatever, too. But once I got that Micro VR, and now the PF rig, I have to admit I'm not saying whatever as much as I once was. For me, the SVT and B-15 will always be king and nothing sounds better, and I certainly don't believe in compromising tone for schlep, but this new Ampeg micro stuff is so good that I'm having a hard time seeing exactly where I'm compromising. Sure, in a direct AB I could tell, but it's getting harder and harder.

you know I can hear a difference, I like the tube sound. I've been playing bass for almost thirty years and I spent all most the whole time using solid state - wish I had discovered what I have been missing a long time ago.

 

[Korladis]

I don't think an all tube bass amp exsists that has more than 400 watts.

The Ashdown Small Block 427 is 427 watts.

The Trace V8 clocked in at well over 400 watts, from what I've read on here.

The Hiwatt 405 I think was over 400 watts.

 

[JimmyM]

Hey Jimmy, you finally got an Ampeg deal? It's about time; did you threaten them that you would stop pimping "all things Ampeg" unless they did?

Now I get why suddenly for some reason the current production pieces got better in your opinion;

I’m sure Loud wants their compensated pimps pushing the new stuff rather than the vintage stuff…

Just jacking you, bro! I hope you got a sweet deal; Lord knows you earned it!!

Ed, I've always liked you, so I'm going to pretend you really were joking.

But just to make sure everyone knows this...if I didn't believe it, I wouldn't say it, and I wouldn't use it. I can afford my own gear and don't need to take an endorsement for gear I don't like. I endorse current Ampeg gear for no other reason than I think it's great.

EDIT: Just saw Ed's correction...I can dig it. No problem, Ed

 

[BurningSkies]

The Ashdown Small Block 427 is 427 watts.

The Trace V8 clocked in at well over 400 watts, from what I've read on here.

The Hiwatt 405 I think was over 400 watts.

Don't forget the Peavey Classic 400 and the Fender 400PS

 

[Korladis]

Another thing I've noticed is that there's a lot of talk about "the tube sound" or "the solid state sound" as if there's only one model amp of each.

There are lots of tube heads all of which sound different. There are lots of solid state heads, all of which sound different.

My D-180 doesn't sound like an SVT, which in turn doesn't sound like a Superbass. Likewise, an 800rb doesn't sound like a Little Mark 2, which doesn't sound like a Coliseum Bass.

 

[Korladis]

Don't forget the Peavey Classic 400 and the Fender 400PS

I knew I was missing some.

 

[LiquidMidnight]

Let me make a suggestion... if the power's damaging to your power strip and it's low voltage cutout activates (clearly not just a power strip), this probably means that it's not a good idea to plug a bunch of expensive gear into the same source eh?

The fact that you got through the gig means that you were lucky that day, how would you have felt if all your gear failed? Do you know that you did no long term damage to your gear?

Good point. I've only been playing bass for 3 months and know absolutely nothing. Thank God you told me all of that!

Not trying to be a douche, but your post came off condesending. Sometimes you have to play the gig you have been hired for. There weren't any DI boxes lying around at the time and if you're not a national band with no representation, be sure you can laugh at yourself when you get laughed at for submitting a rider.

 

[pengyou40]

I just posted an ad today on Craigslist to sell my Peavey VB-2 all tube head. It sounds pretty good, but I have to say that the low end sounds very "undefined" and "flubby" to me compared to all the solid-state amps I've played. Also, it weighs close to 60 pounds and I'd much rather have the GK MB212 with 500 watts at 39 pounds, that's with the two 12" speakers built in! Or maybe even another lighter solid state head. After I pick the head, then it's pedal time...maybe a tubey sounding sansamp pedal, or something. I don't have to have the actual tube sound anymore, a sweet, twisted pedal with a solid-state amp will be perfect to me now after owning both a tube amp and a S.S. amp.

 

[teemuk]

Another thing I've noticed is that there's a lot of talk about "the tube sound" or "the solid state sound" as if there's only one model amp of each.

There are lots of tube heads all of which sound different. There are lots of solid state heads, all of which sound different.

Man, that just makes too much sense. It's best for all our interest to just treat things as black and white as possible.

 

[scottfeldstein]

I'd much rather have the GK MB212 with 500 watts at 39 pounds, that's with the two 12" speakers built in! Or maybe even another lighter solid state head. After I pick the head, then it's pedal time...maybe a tubey sounding sansamp pedal, or something.

Ha! A few months ago I bought an MB210, liked it ok but sold it and bought an MB500 and a 2x12 cab. Then I bought a pedal board and the first thing on it? SansAmp.

Sounds like I've just been where you're going

 

[mackinawpeaches]

both! i prefer a nice class D tube pre/ss hybrid like the Ashdown ABM.

 

[B-string]

Good point. I've only been playing bass for 3 months and know absolutely nothing. Thank God you told me all of that!

Not trying to be a douche, but your post came off condesending. Sometimes you have to play the gig you have been hired for. There weren't any DI boxes lying around at the time and if you're not a national band with no representation, be sure you can laugh at yourself when you get laughed at for submitting a rider.

If someone buys and hooks up line voltage protection then defeats what you bought it for........how can you say it nicely? I've learned the hard way, if the venue can't supply what your equipment needs. It is on them not you, cost me a $1200 mixer and guitard $120 in output tubes. The venue didn't pay, we just lost. Next time we just pack it back in.

 

[agedhorse]

If someone buys and hooks up line voltage protection then defeats what you bought it for........how can you say it nicely? I've learned the hard way, if the venue can't supply what your equipment needs. It is on them not you, cost me a $1200 mixer and guitard $120 in output tubes. The venue didn't pay, we just lost. Next time we just pack it back in.

Yes B-String, precicely the point I was trying to make.

Wasn't intending for my comments to be condecending, that's just how Liquidmidnight interpreted them I suppose.

I have seen plenty of destroyed gear due to "power incidents", just recently repaired an entire system that suffered about $8k in damage from a generator regulation problem (it was substantial gear) and the owner knew better but still felt obligated to go forward and do the gig. Looks like he will end up getting stuck with AT LEAST $4k of the bill but that's only if the promoter and genny provider agree to split the other half. My guess is that they will not. This was a very expensive lesson, as he had other gigs booked that he had to rent gear for and ended up doing those gigs at a loss.

 

[naruki]

Markbass Little Mark Tube? Tube/SolidState blend.

 

[B-string]

Yes B-String, precicely the point I was trying to make.

Wasn't intending for my comments to be condecending, that's just how Liquidmidnight interpreted them I suppose.

I have seen plenty of destroyed gear due to "power incidents", just recently repaired an entire system that suffered about $8k in damage from a generator regulation problem (it was substantial gear) and the owner knew better but still felt obligated to go forward and do the gig. Looks like he will end up getting stuck with AT LEAST $4k of the bill but that's only if the promoter and genny provider agree to split the other half. My guess is that they will not. This was a very expensive lesson, as he had other gigs booked that he had to rent gear for and ended up doing those gigs at a loss.

Most of us play for fun and hopefully a little cash. Better for a nub or anyone to learn from others mistakes on here That gig I had was with the City of Ojai, Ca. After the gen set quit we found out the bounce castle's blower was on the city grid and WE were on the gen set. We actually did pack up on one gig that had low mains voltage (blown fuse was found at the pole latter). We were asked back many times after that.

 

[stflbn]

GK MBFusion showed up a few minutes ago.

Will be comparing it to my Markbass F1 with my 2 RS210s over lunch.


.

 

[scottfeldstein]

I really want to know how tubey it can get. I have the MB500 which is all solid state and I want to know what I'm missing.